Allotments 4 All

Im am seriously annoyed...the god dam previous owner stored his fishing boat motors on the plot I now have, i was happly digging a bed over and pulling out all the couch grass ect, then lo and behold i smell diesel. I did think it was someones rotavator, then i realise its in the soil, over a spit down its saturated with the stuff  :(

What can I do to get rid of it!! Im not going to plant in it as it will contaminate my veggies.

I swear the next person who tells me the guy who had it is a nice bloke or that the soil is excellent is going to end up with a fork sticking out of the side of there head.

GRRRRRRRRR

Hi Shadowdragon

I would just bag up the contaminated soil - to a depth of one and a half or two spits and get rid of it and put fresh soil in.

If you plant stuff that doesn't have long roots you should be OK and it will neutralise itself further down - given a bit ot time!

Old Bird

;D

thanks i kinda guessed it was a removal job  :(

Would it help leaving the hosepipe on it overnight to dillute it?

Im still seething at this, its really annoyed me  >:(

No! - definitely not - as the oil sits on top of water and will wash away with the water - spreading it even further!

O B  :o

Quote from: Old bird on May 01, 2009, 14:25:52
No! - definitely not - as the oil sits on top of water and will wash away with the water - spreading it even further!

O B  :o

OK thanks  :)

Would your council help with something like that if it's a council-owned allotment? (Just wondering if to get rid of anything that's soaked with diesel you might have to put it somewhere other than with general allotment waste because of it being flammable/toxic.)

Could try building a bl##dy big bonfire on it, and keep it going for a few days....  :-\

Quote from: fireflydigger on May 01, 2009, 14:38:16
Would your council help with something like that if it's a council-owned allotment? (Just wondering if to get rid of anything that's soaked with diesel you might have to put it somewhere other than with general allotment waste because of it being flammable/toxic.)

OOO yeah good point, although I dont really want the previous people to get in trouble, as its two other plot holders who were managing it for someone who kept chickens but couldnt manage the cultivation!! I really dont need the greif tbh.

robin, were not allowed bonfires (although they do happen) I think someone would probably complain if it was burning over the bankholiday weekend LOL.

diesel will kill every plant in that area. If he has been storing fuel there a long time it will be a long way down. I would be tempted to cover the area in builders plastic then build very high raised beds that drain sideways. Give it 5 or 6 years then try a sample throw away deep rooted crop like chard, if it survives use the ground as normal if not then wait another 5 or 6 years.

Other than that just use the uncontaminated part of the plot, but make sure the authorities know of the problem and negotiate another plot or a greatly reduced rent. What the ex plottie has done is against the law, fuel should be stored in a 'tanked' area to contain spills.

Just be  aware, If the information gets to certain people and you have not reported it you could also be in trouble!

Quote from: ACE on May 01, 2009, 15:38:26
diesel will kill every plant in that area. If he has been storing fuel there a long time it will be a long way down. I would be tempted to cover the area in builders plastic then build very high raised beds that drain sideways. Give it 5 or 6 years then try a sample throw away deep rooted crop like chard, if it survives use the ground as normal if not then wait another 5 or 6 years.

Other than that just use the uncontaminated part of the plot, but make sure the authorities know of the problem and negotiate another plot or a greatly reduced rent. What the ex plottie has done is against the law, fuel should be stored in a 'tanked' area to contain spills.

Just be  aware, If the information gets to certain people and you have not reported it you could also be in trouble!

You are correct, ive just telephoned the council, they have told me not to touch any of the land and someone is coming out on tuesday to investigate  :o 

apparently they agree that I should have contacted them and did the right thing doing so.

I am hoping its just an isolated spot and there not more of it around  :(

Can they condem the plot? (i hope not, ive done loads of work and cant move the chicken coop as its been there for like 20 years!!!

thanks for all the help  :)

Quote from: shadowdragon on May 01, 2009, 15:57:17

Quote from: ACE on May 01, 2009, 15:38:26
diesel will kill every plant in that area. If he has been storing fuel there a long time it will be a long way down. I would be tempted to cover the area in builders plastic then build very high raised beds that drain sideways. Give it 5 or 6 years then try a sample throw away deep rooted crop like chard, if it survives use the ground as normal if not then wait another 5 or 6 years.

Other than that just use the uncontaminated part of the plot, but make sure the authorities know of the problem and negotiate another plot or a greatly reduced rent. What the ex plottie has done is against the law, fuel should be stored in a 'tanked' area to contain spills.

Just be  aware, If the information gets to certain people and you have not reported it you could also be in trouble!

You are correct, ive just telephoned the council, they have told me not to touch any of the land and someone is coming out on tuesday to investigate  :o 

apparently they agree that I should have contacted them and did the right thing doing so.

I am hoping its just an isolated spot and there not more of it around  :(

Can they condem the plot? (i hope not, ive done loads of work and cant move the chicken coop as its been there for like 20 years!!!

thanks for all the help  :)

My uncle's fuel oil tank leaked after an AGA service "expert" didn't tighten a join on the pipe. My Uncle was living in a tiny Village in salisbury, right next to watercress beds!!!! :o
I ended up having to excavate all the contaminated soil into a waterproof skip for him under the direction of the environment agency. That was 4000litres of oil though!!! The watercress bed was out of action that season but back the next year. I very much doubt you'll be removed from the plot, more likely just inconvenienced while it's dealt with.

Quote from: siandc on May 04, 2009, 09:09:13

Quote from: shadowdragon on May 01, 2009, 15:57:17

Quote from: ACE on May 01, 2009, 15:38:26
diesel will kill every plant in that area. If he has been storing fuel there a long time it will be a long way down. I would be tempted to cover the area in builders plastic then build very high raised beds that drain sideways. Give it 5 or 6 years then try a sample throw away deep rooted crop like chard, if it survives use the ground as normal if not then wait another 5 or 6 years.

Other than that just use the uncontaminated part of the plot, but make sure the authorities know of the problem and negotiate another plot or a greatly reduced rent. What the ex plottie has done is against the law, fuel should be stored in a 'tanked' area to contain spills.

Just be  aware, If the information gets to certain people and you have not reported it you could also be in trouble!

You are correct, ive just telephoned the council, they have told me not to touch any of the land and someone is coming out on tuesday to investigate  :o 

apparently they agree that I should have contacted them and did the right thing doing so.

I am hoping its just an isolated spot and there not more of it around  :(

Can they condem the plot? (i hope not, ive done loads of work and cant move the chicken coop as its been there for like 20 years!!!

thanks for all the help  :)

My uncle's fuel oil tank leaked after an AGA service "expert" didn't tighten a join on the pipe. My Uncle was living in a tiny Village in salisbury, right next to watercress beds!!!! :o
I ended up having to excavate all the contaminated soil into a waterproof skip for him under the direction of the environment agency. That was 4000litres of oil though!!! The watercress bed was out of action that season but back the next year. I very much doubt you'll be removed from the plot, more likely just inconvenienced while it's dealt with.

Thanks  :) I have dug out the majority of the contaminated soil already and put it on the flagged area up by my gate, so that they can see it tommorow. I was going to dig a pond at some point, so im going to start digging that out and use the topsoil from that to replace the soil from the contaminated area. The general consensus down the lottie was that I shouldnt have rung the council, but i rekon thats the guys protecting the one who splilled the diesel. Not that im gunning for them or anything, just want to do things right if you know what i mean.

yes burning will be the best dig a pit down to the saturated soil camp the other soil up the sides then burn on the bit for a few months should get rid of it ;)

Could you not change your plans for the pond and put it where the contaminated patch is... that way you needn't worry about whether it's safe or not to plant in that area... and would save on yet more digging which has got to be a bonus.

You did the right thing contacting the council. If you hadn't you might have got the blame in the future. Have you got a shed if not could you site your shed on the contaminated spot?

I had an area where many bonfires had been made by the council workers and they had burnt lots of dubious stuff including wire and glass so I put my shed on that spot...though it is actually quite a good spot for my shed.

Thanks for all the advice  :)

unfortunatley the spot is bang in the middle of my plot near the path that runs down the centre. I dont want the pond there or a shed  :'(

I will just have to dig as much out as possible then move the topsoil from where the pond is going and infill. Hopefully theres no more of the stuff and this will be the end of it!!! but who knows  ???

Not much practical use but you have all my sympathy with this one.

Best of luck with the digging.

Good news (I think!). Some chap from council came out today. He said he was going to send someone down, they will dig out the contaminated soil then bring me a couple of tons of top soil down to replace it  ;D

Cant complain at that for a solution. Surprisingly the people from the council regarding the Allotments are pretty good. Which is nice  ;D

QuoteThe general consensus down the lottie was that I shouldnt have rung the council, but i rekon thats the guys protecting the one who splilled the diesel.

I bet they would have done the same if it had been their plot. Glad you are getting it sorted!

Victor Meldrew moment

"I dont believe it!!!"

Not only did the council not turn up and remove the soil as promised by the end of the week, ive only gone and found another patch of contaminated soil  >:(  >:(  >:(  >:(  >:(